Wanting to start a LUG here.

I have been using Linux for a little while and would like to start a LUG (Linux User Group). There are a couple of LUG's on the internet for around here, but they are at the colleges and no way to contact them. I think that the people that started the LUGS are now graduated and the sites are still up and running. I would like to find local folks around that are interested in Linux/Unix and saving money. I have a lead of a Linux/Unix user from my Step Sister and will contacting them soon. I think that this one will not pan out looking at his website. But, you don't know without trying.

Q: Why do you pay money for the right to use YOUR Computer?
A: Linux let's you use your computer the way You want.

Q: Why do you have to buy an Antivirus in order to get the computer you purchased to work?
A: Why not move to Linux and have a computer that works?

Q: Why do you have to pay good money for a program to lose it when your OS is changed?
A: Move to Linux and get most of your programs for free and keep them when your OS upgrades.

Linux on the learning curve.

If I had to learn everything on my own I most likely would just use the GUI (Graphical User Interface). But thanks to the podcasts and the sites they recommend I am learning loads under CLI (Command Line Interface).

How to set up Servers, how to use MySql, PHP, Apache, the learning is just so fun.

I would recommend to anyone who is tired of Windows and defragging, Anti-Virus checking, wasting good computer time to maintenance of simple things or your computer will not run. To take a good long look at Linux.

Download a few different distros and burn CD's then boot your computer using the live cd's to check out what Linux can do for you.

You will have fun. If you never get past the GUI you will enjoy it. Seek out a LUG (Linux User Group) near you. There should be someone there to help you out.

You will not be disappointed. Besides the best part of moving to Linux? Money savings.

What? Yes, You heard me. You can save loads of money. First the OS (Operating System) is downloadable. In most cases it costs nothing. But if you want to pay, there are some Linux's that will charge you for service. Kinda like paying for the OS.

Then there is the software. How much did you pay for MS OFFICE, PHOTOSHOP or any other piece of software? What if I told you, you can get the same level of software in most cases for the same price you paid for the OS. Nothing. There is a software house in each Distro. You need internet connection and just open your software house and point and click each package. I would suggest keep it down to under 50. You have to remember it will also load packages needed to help run the packages you selected. In some cases a package you selected may also install 20+ other packages.

Have fun.....

My Software pick on Linux for Notes.

Listening to Going Linux Podcasts a listener wrote in wanting to move to Linux but is using Microsoft Office with OneNote. He is willing to move to OpenOffice but can't find a replacement for OneNote. So the folks at Going Linux did some searching and came up with Basket. I have used OneNote and Basket is very, very close to it. It does not allow pictures which OneNote does. But the makers of Basket said you can use pictures in the next version Basket.

What is OneNote and Basket?

It is a note taking program that you can organize it in several different ways. Think of it as a file cabinet. With Folders within Folders. So you can think of School as one folder, Math class as a folder inside of School and then Yesterdays, Today's class in different folders within the math folder. Then different aspects of today's class in again different folders.

Then you can also have a folder like English under school and class folders up to today's class. Then within today's class we could have Reading folder, and Author's folder and maybe even rough draft folder for today's assignment.

You can keep your thoughts organized and if needed break them down into more folders so to grasp the idea. Break it down to bites that you understand. Then build up from the lowest folder.

I can see applications for Programming. Main Idea then folders for sub ideas then even folders for code to make those ideas possible. Folders within those code folders for algorithms for different areas of the code.

I can see applications for teachers, as well as students. Businesses, clubs. Your mind is the only limitation on how you can use these programs.

Basket also allows you draw notes from other programs.

So as a great program for Linux. Basket fills the bill. Look in your menus for your Package Manager. Then search for Basket. Install it. You will not be disappointed.

Having so much fun learning

Learning has never been so much fun as when it is something you wanted to learn and not forced to learn.

I have been listening to Linux podcasts, thelip, going Linux and Linux Reality. These three will help the newbie Linux user to learn more and faster.

If you are like many Linux users you have learned the hard way. A little at a time. By listening to these podcasts it's like getting inside the head of a Linux User and the feedback adds to it.

Save your money, Get more out of your computer. I have more fun on the computer now then I did when Commodore 64 was huge.... That was over 20 years ago....

The Games the programs the whole package. If you do nothing but use the KDE or GNOME Desktops for your new home. It will save you time, money and headaches over Windows and you be able to do so much more right out of the box.

With Windows you have to get an Anti-Virus just to get Windows online. Then if you want to do games - you have to buy them. If you want Word Processing, Databases or Spreadsheets you have to buy the programs and install them. Want to do Pictures and restore old ones Linux you can Windows, yes you got it have to go out and buy the software. Just in these examples you are talking over $1,000 just to get Windows to do what Linux and do right out of the box. Sorta speak out of the ISO or Disk Sets. And the most it cost you was a few blank disks and a few hours downloading the ISO's and burning them to disk and then installing it on your computer.

Each day I learn something new. How to use different packages (Software) and slowly learning Command Line to get things done the way I want them done.

Moving to Linux knowledge

Have you ever heard of Linux?

Know what Linux is?

What it does for your computer?

Interested?

If you are interested in Linux or move to Linux, I have some help for you.

I have been listening to different Linux podcasts and they can help you with your Linux problem. Such as which Distro is best for me? Well, that is a preference that you have to make, but you don't know enough to make that choice? That is where the podcasts make a difference.

Linux Reality,
Going Linux,
TLLTS - The Learning Linux Tech Show
Linux Install, (thelip) and
BSDTalk.

These podcasts give the new user a wealth of information. How to do different things. How to get Linux working, how to keep Linux working, how to enjoy Linux.


Example: I want to install a Linux Distro on my computer and don't really know what I am doing?
Thelip will help you. They install a Linux distro every month, and the following weeks they install programs, tweak the distro and you are there as they do it. If you don't like that distro wait until next month.


Want to get info for a certain aspect of Linux? Going Linux and Linux Reality will help you there. They help at a newbie level and in most cases move to a more advanced level.


If you want to learn UNIX which is what Linux is created from. Try BSDTalk. Not all Linux will work with Unix and not all Unix will work with Linux. This is where BSDTalk helps.


If you are interested in checking out Linux or moving to Linux listen to these podcasts. You might find a lot more than just moving to Linux.

Better computing thru Linux open source and podcasts

I have been playing around with Linux for almost a year now. The things I learned, are one slow item at a time. Reading here and there. Picking up cool little gems from this page and that.

I started to listen to Linux podcasts. TLLTS - The Linux Link Tech Show. They just shoot the breeze about Linux and then they have special guests on and lets you sit in on their chats. They discuss all the trends in Linux.

I came across Linux Reality Podcast. One word - Awesome!

Chess covers different things month after month. All based one the previous month so the deeper you go the more lost you are unless you listened to the earlier casts. He guides his casts on very basic parts of Linux. How to download a distro. Burn a distro to disk.

It is geared to Windows and Mac users who what something better than what they forked out good money for. Linux is an operating system that puts the power of the computer in YOUR hands and not Microsoft or Apple. If you ever read the agreement that comes with Windows, it allows you to use their software at their pleasure. You pay Microsoft to use their software as is and Linux you can get for free and have it to explore or just use as is just like Microsoft's as is.

With Linux you get a better Operating System (OS) than Windows. May not be as polished as Windows or Mac but there are not tens of thousands being paid from a billion dollar company to create a sub standard product and fleece the public to force it on every computer made. If it saves you $20 to $5000 per computer, it is well worth it. There may only be a few people working on a piece of software for no money, just for the joy of giving the community a product that can challenge Windows at almost no cost to you.

You may have to do some learning. Spend a night or two a week learning the new OS. When you are done you have a better computer system than you could buy for very big money from Windows and it cost you little to nothing. No Windows problems.

I am about a quarter of the way through his podcasts and realized very quickly that I know nothing about Linux.

I found another podcast that is for newbies or someone wanting to move to Linux. Going Linux podcasts.

Learning Linux

It is just like when you were in School. Baby steps learning the basics but it is still usable while you are learning the basics. Yes you can surf the internet, but you might need help installing some codecs, java, etc. you can also write a letter, balance a checkbook, download pictures, modify pictures and play games. All without learning how to use Linux sort of, You do have to try to figure out what programs do the above, You will need help getting codecs, java and other programs, so you can watch movies, listen to music. If you are using a Debian based Distro you can download and run a shell program called exoodles. This shell program will help you install java, codecs and browsers. You just have to figure out how to do shell programming. If you can find the site to install the exoodles it will give you step by step instructions to install and run the shell. If you use a Distro other than Debian - Sorry I have no experience there. You have to remember I am newish to Linux. I have learned all this over 6 months that I have had Linux installed. I have played with live distros on cd/dvd's and found out a lot of what I needed to move to get Linux up and running.

Good luck on your Linux quest.